[QUOTE="SeanBond"][QUOTE="credibilityzero"][QUOTE="Grive"][QUOTE="credibilityzero"] No one answered my question with great detail including you, I didn't make an argument yet.
credibilityzero
Alright, I will answer your question, let's see if you're able to answer mine (I seriously doubt your ability to). I would agree with you in that you don't have an argument, though. I'll reserve further throughts in this tangent to myself, so we don't derail this "argument" anymore.
Last time I checked, story and character development were the most important parts of an RPG. While lenght can be a good indicator of the developent and depth, it not necessarily is - some short stories have more depth and better plot progression than "epic" multi-tome novels. In any case, the "side-quests" can be important and even essential in shaping your character's progression and development, and in some cases, even affect the main storyline, or at the very least, considerably expand upon it. In this case, the sidequests can be an integral part of what makes the RPG genre a standout amongst the other genres, which do offer quicker gratification.
Not to mention, any "RPG" that relies only on a static main storyline is, by definition, not an RPG.
So, the main quest progression, while the most important aspect of an RPG, is not the only part of the game that "adds value" to the experience and it's worth as an RPG.
Happy now?
There is a difference between what is written by books and what you experience.
credibilityzero
And aside from a rather poor and cliched attempt at sounding wiser and/or experienced for no good reason whatsoever, how does this apply to the questions posed to you?
Ok, now, it is my time.
1- While I agree with most of your post, I don't see the importance of side quests more than the main quest/story in any genre, specially RPGs, the secrets and side quests is an interesting aspect of any game in any genre,yet, it does not mean neglecting the main story, if the main quest/story depends much for the side quests, it means there is weak spot for the game and that actually mean, the developers.
It is like putting a pointless vehicle level on FPSs to fill the space of the game, it does add enjoyment for some gamers, others will not like this add.
Most RPGs has side quests, which is not a new thing, but does that mean they will cut the main story to half which is in ME?
The funny thing is Bioware doing a good job to distract gamers from the main story and make them believe side stories are important.
2- I have experienced alot of genres, alot of games as a gamer, I was referring to the "define RPGs" question about for my comment.
1) The original idea behind RPGs was to have the player create a character, throw said character into a huge world, and give the character essentially limitless choice in terms of what to do in the world, and where to go. The now-legendary Advanced Dungeons and Dragons pretty much perfected this idea, and gave players the ability to not only be a hero in a sweeping and epic storyline, but also to be a common person in a common town, living out everyday life. Japanese videogame RPGs definitely played a big part in reversing this trend (Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest among others reversed the idea of choice in RPGs), but even in most of these games, you still have optional things to do, so you don't always feel like you're being forced to do what everyone else playing the game would.
Oblivion (a Western, and thus more traditional RPG) is one of the most popular RPGs this generation, and probably one of the most well-thought of console RPGs ever, and guess what? The reason it's so good isn't its main quest. If you've played Oblivion, then you know exactly how complex character generation is (from picking gender and race to appearance, tochoosing your class, or even creating a unique one), and how the character you choose determines the path you take in the game (if you're not combat-oriented, maybe you'llrely more on stealth during combat). After that, you've got an entire game's worth of sidequests, the majority of which feel like things you might actually be asked to do in this magical world you've been thrown into. The fun of playing Oblivion is in exploring the world, and seeing what its inhabitants are doing, while also trying to accomplish the main goals you've set out to do. Without the sidequests, Oblivion becomes just another solid WRPG; with sidequests it's elevated to one of the biggest, best, and truest RPGs, probably ever.
2) Whether or not you've played lots of genres (this doesn't seem to have too much to do with the topic, and doesn't add much to credibility, considering the majority of us here are fairly familiar with most genres of games), you seem to either be missing the point of the RPG, or just don't find much joy in them. Do you enjoy grinding to gain levels more than gaining new skills (i.e. becoming simply more "powerful" versus more versatile)? Do you enjoy beating boss after boss more than you do exploring? If you've answered yes to those questions, than you're probably better off playing action RPGs which will focus more on simply going from point A to point B. But if you actually do enjoy what makes an RPG an RPG, you shouldn't have much of a problem agreeing that sidequests are pretty important to a good RPG.
1- I don't want to be harsh here, but I have to say this, you didn't counter my point.
2- I only said this when he asked for the meaning of RPG, Im not being cool or anything, it is only a reply to confirm my knowledge for the genre RPG by experience, not by some definition in a book or source.
you had a point to counter?
i would put money on it that if mass effect was on ps3 you would be jumping up and down in these forums sayin "OMG gamespot is t3h biast OMG mass effect is t3h greatest rpg ever in t3h histrory of humanity"
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